Meter-box.



' H. M. LOFTON.

METER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1909.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

&\\\\\\\\\\\\\ WHBQESSES a citizen of the United States, and a .resi-- dent of the city'of Chattanooga, county of p UNITED v s fr ss PATENT OFFIC HERBERT M. LOFTON, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

METER-BOX.

To altwlwm itvnay concern;

Be it-kn'own that I, HERBERT M; or'rozx',

Hamilton, and State of Tennessee, have invented an Improvement in Meter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to improvements in streetmeter boxes and consists of certain improvements which are .fully set forth I in the following specificatiom'and shown in theaccompanying drawingsw-hich form'a art thereo ,The 0 jectiof my invention is a su1tab le construction" of' meterbox es .cially j adapted' 'forwater meters, where y the meter maybe attached or"detached with respect to the waterpipes and removed from the surface otthez groundor sidewalk with out-removing1% t ejinete'r bbx itselfiand witts out the necessityflof having theboxlarge enough for aman to get down into the same for the purpose of connecting and disconnectin the meter. By my improvement the meter ox need not have a cross'section materially greater than the area occupied. by

the-meter in plan, and the said meter may be placed in position and mechanically connected with the 'water pipes without the necessity of the workman-actually handling the meter and the connections.

This invention is especially useful when the meter has to be replaced or removed for repairs and where a large cover to the meter. box would be objectionable.

invention consists of a meter box provided' with an inlet and outlet relatively adjustable to and from each other, combined with means for im a rting a relative adjustment of the inlet an outlet to or from 'each other and maintaining the adjustment,

fwhereby the inefer may he clamped between the said inlet and'outlet.

.llly 'invention also consists of. the above constructlon when provided with support m'g bearin s for .themeter and suitable packing wit the meter box between which.

the;meter is adapted to be clamped.

My invention further consists of a' meter b'oxprovided on one side near its bottom :witlra port; and onits other side with an Specification of Letters Iatent.

I Application filed April 27, 1909.

to provide Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Serial No. 492,476.

adjustable tubular part between which and the port the "meter. is clamped so that the orifices or ports of the meter are in alinement with the port and tubular part of the meter box, combined with means for adj usting the tubular part in the direction of its length.

My invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the fea- 'tures above's ecified, Wlll be better under- Stood by re erence to the drawings; in Wh ch:

Figure 1- is a sectional elevation-Iota meter b'ox showing the meter in position and "embodying my invention; 'Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the adjustable tubular partof the meter box on a larger scale; Fig.

3 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the same.

":The meter boxproper consists of a base 2 these are combined with a telescopic scctionb which extends'upward to the pavementprsurface of the ground. The telescopic part 6 enables the box to be varied as to its total depth to suit the distance of the water pipes below the pavement. The extreme upper end of the part 6 is provided with a remo\' able cover; 7 said cover having an engaging hook 8 and an adjustable lock or latch 9 for upon which is fitted a middle section 5, and

holding it fixedly to the top of the box and hular part 14 which is screw-threaded on the end as at. 26 for connection with the water pipe. This part 14 is also provided with a nscrew-threa 20 about its main portion.

The inner end ofthe tubular part 14 is prov "vided with'arecess or socket 15 in which a packingwasher 16 islplaced and the lower portionin 'front of the packing washer is -fo rmed mto a supporting beanng 17. Plus.

tubular part 14 is prevented from rotating by means of the pin 18 which works in a hole 19 in the body of the box 2. Surrounding the screw-threaded tubular part Hand engaging the threads 20v thereof, is a worm wheel 21, said worm wheel beingheld against movement in the direction of the length of the tubular part 14 by being located in a slot- 1t) 22 in the base of the box. Meshing with the worm wheel 21 is a worm 23, the said worm being journaled in the box 2 and provided on its end with a polygonal head 24. A key 25, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, may

be inserted from above into the box and by engaging the head 24, the worm 23 may be rotated and thereby rotate the worm wheel 21 with the result that the tubular part 14 may be shifted or adjusted longitudinally. 27 represents an ordinary water meter and may be of any suitable construction. These meters are provided with inlets and outlets i of which 28 is one and 29 the other. These pgrts 28 and 29 are placed in the supporting arings 13 and 17 respectively and then, by turning the worm 23,:the tubular part 14 may be adjusted toward the port 3 and thereby clamp the water ports of the meterbetween the packing washersll and 16. In

30 this manner -='the meter may be attachedin posit'on wit i'tthe meter box without the necessity of employing rotating parts or the U usual couplings?- In-the drawing, I'have showli the ordinary screw-threads found '35 upon the inlet and outlet ports of the meters, but these screw threads have no function to perform when suchmeter is employed inconnection with my improvements.

Ordinarily, the iron water pipe may be 40 screwed into the -port 3 and in this way provide water to the meter. The adjustable tobular part 1; may have its threaded end 26 connected by a coupling with the lead pipe leading intothe'house and which will give ample elasticity. to permit of the longitudinaladjustment of the tubular part 14 in clamping and unclamping-the meter in position. The supporting hearings or sockets 13 and 17 are substantially the same and both act to support the meter as indicated in Fig. 1, preferably above the bottom} of the box 2.

" It will be-.understood from the above con-- struction that the meter may be clamped in i operative position without the necessity of the workman-entering the box or reaching down to the inlet or outlet sides of the meter for making conhections, as the connection may be accomplished by manipulations 60 wholly from above ,the box. It is also evident that, while I have shown powerful means for securing the clamping adjustment of the tubular part 14, the relative adjust- I ment of'sna part with respect-to the port 3 l may be secured by anyother'suitable me- 6'5 chanical means which may be operated from I above, and hence I do not restrict myself to. the particular means shown.-

While I prefer that the port 3 shall be the inlet port of the meter box, it is evident that 7t) these may be reversed as theparticular .direction of the flow of the water is immaterial as the object to be accomplished is the same irrespective of which direction the watr flows. v Broadlyconsidered, my invention coinprehends tubular water-passages arranged in the bottom of. ameter box and terminating in clamping ends when combined with means for adjusting these clam ing ends relatively to'or from each other or clamping or releasing a nieterbetween them, and while I prefer the construction shown, for. 1

accomplishing this purpose, I do not limit'; myself to the details thereof as these may be, modified withoutdeparting from' the spirit of the invention.

V i a Having now described my invention what I claim as new andFdo'sireto secure by Letters Patent, is: v j 1. I n,a meter box, a lowerportionhaying at one side a fixed port for the passage of water, combined with a longitudina'lly-rladj ustable tubular part extend"' throu hthe" oppoa site side of the meter oxantfconstitutmg the other water port thereof, said tubular part being screw threaded at its outer end, and means to adjust the tubularpartbodily toward or from the fixed port whereby a meter may beclamped between the timid port and the longitudinally adjustable. part. 2. In a meter box, a box shaped portion having at one side a;- fixedport 'andat the other side a guide passage, combined with a tubular portion aided in the guide pas sage in the box and having at its outer end screw threads, packing arranged upon its inner end, a meter having its integral ports at opposite sides directly clamped between 410 the packing of thefixed port and the adjustable tubular portion, means carried'by the box and surrounding the adjustable tu-- bular portion and mechanically connected I toward or from the fixed port, I

3. In a meter box, a lower portion having at one side a port for the'passage of water and provided with a supporting-bearing at a lower elevation than and to one side of ,the port for the meter on the inside of thebox, combined with a longitudinally adjusts able tubular part at the opposite sid'e'of themeter box and constitutingthe'other port of the meter box and also provided on its inner end with a supporting bearing at a lower elevation and independent of the port for the meter, and means to adjust the packing about the fixed port on the inside, 10

with .it for adjusting said tubular portion 11 other and onefo'f them adjustable bodily 40 ,port

tubular. part toward or vfrom the first men to be rotated from the 11 per part of the water port'consistingof gearing'comprisin a worm wheel carried box port-ion having inlet-and outlet porttioned water port whereby a meter may he clamped between the water port and the longitudinal adjustable part while being supported. upon the. bearings.

In a meter box, alower portion havingat one side a port for the assageof water, combined with a longitud nally adjustable tubular part at the opposite sideof and extending through the meter box and threaded to constitute'the other water port thereof, and means oonsisting-of gearing adapted meter ;box to adjust'the tu ular'part bodily toward or from the first mentioned water port whereby a meter may. be'clamped between the water port and the longitudinal iidjustable part. 5. In a meter box, -a lower portion having at one side a rt fdr the massage of water, combined witi a,' lon'gitudinally adjustable tubular part at t'' opposite side of the meter boxa-ndjconstituting the other water port thereof, and means to adjust the tubular part toward or from the first mentioned by the meter box an having a screw threaded connect-ion with the longitudinally adjustable I part" and; a, worm carried by the meter box on ging the worm wheel for-rotating it,-'where* a-meter may be clam d between the; water port and the longitudinal adjustable part I 6. In a meter box. the combination of a portions for the water, betwee'n whirh a. meterlmay be clampedsaid portions being ad ustable relatively toward or from each through the side of the box, with soft pacle inggaskets in said inlet and outlet- .port portions and facing each other, means for imparting a longitudinal adjustment to the portion extending through the side of the box, and'a meter having fixed ports directly clamped between the packing gaskets'of theinlet and outlet portions.

7. in a meter box, the combination of a box portion having inlet arid outlet port portions for the water between'which a meter may be clamped said portions being ad justable relatively toward or from each other and onefof them adjustable bodily through the side of the hox,'w'ith soft. packing gaskets in said inlet and outlet portportions and facinge'ich other, means for imparting longitudinal adjustment to the port portion extending through the side of the box consisting of a gear wheel screwed .lur part constituting the other upon the adjustable port portion, means for I holding the gear against displacement in the box, and means engaging the said gear i for rotating it. i 8. A meter box having. a fixed per, al

to directly clamp the meter in position between the fixed port and t-he tubula'r portion.

9-, A meter box havin a fixed port, a tubular )ortion constituting the other port extending thron h the opposite wall of the box and adjustable lengthwise through the 4 said wall, combined with a meter having its ports arranged between the fixed ort of the box and the inner' end of the ad ustable tubular port-ion, tubular rtionthrough the side of the box to direct y clamp the meter ino'sitionbetween the fixed It and the tub ar portion, and supports or the meter arranged direetly under its ports for sustaimn itsi ht while exposing-the junction 9 the we sai ports with the fixed'port' and the adjusgable tubular portionof the box afore-' sal 1-10. In a meter box, a lower portionhaving at'one side a fixed port for the passa 'e of water. combined with a longitudinalg adjustable tubular part-extending throng iheopposite side of the meter box and constituting the other water port thereof, annular packing around the fixed water rt on the inside of the box, annular pacliiilg on the inner end of theilougitudinal adjust able part a meter-having inlet and outlet portions direct-1y clamped between the packing of the inlet and outletports, and means to bodily adjust the tubular part toward or from the fixed water port. whereby a meter may be directly clamped between them.

11. A meter box having a fixed rtat one side, combined with an adju'stab e tubus ort and guided through the opposite wall 0 the box,

-a meter clamped between the fixed ort and Y the inner end of the adjustable tubu ar part,

means foradjusting and i hiued with an adjustable tnbular part constituting the other port and guided through 1 5 upon its innerend with a lower soc et b'earing. a meter Blamped between the fixed port the opposite wall of the box and rovided and the inner end of-the adjustable tubular Q was;

put and' hav' its port'pol tions an u right axis and engaging the worm the socket bea l r lgs of the fixed port and :Ldwhee for rotating it. 10

juatable' tubular part, means to prevent the In testimony of which invention, I hereadjustable-tubular art from rotating while unto set my hand.

a permitting 1 itu inal adiustment, a worm HERBERT M. LOFTQN.

wheel autumn ing the a jumble tubular Witnesses: part and therewith by lscreyv F. E. Mmn', thresdad jgint, and a worm amngedupon -V. J, Damn. 

